The next round of qualifiers of the 2016 Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship will take place on Friday April at Accra Polytechnic with the two-time and defending champions set to host Zenith University College, Blue Crest College and Valley View University in Zone F.
The third edition of UPAC is headlined by world leading deodorant maker Rexona and already has University of Development Studies-Tamale, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Takoradi Polytechnic secure spots in the last eight of the competition.
With just days before tipoff, Basketballghana.com takes a closer look at Zenith University’s chances on making it out of the preliminary stage.
As one of the dark horse contenders for the title in last year’s competition, it is shocking to find Zenith languishing out contenders for this year’s title. Such dip in form can easily be attributed to the team’s difficulty in replacing a star studded starting line up from last year’s team.
Point Guard wiz Kingsley “Shaker” Quist is now with Ghana Technology University College-Accra, Center Joseph Boye has graduated and sharp shooter Gabriel Numanorse is with reigning champions Accra Polytechnic stripping the team of its’ spine.
Remnants of last year’s team Ekow Abaidor and Joseph Sena will have a daunting task pushing this team over the edge to gain qualification to the next round. Indications of that happening seem remote following disappointing showings in games they have been involved in thus far.
In warm up games played at the University of Ghana, Zenith held the game’s lead till the final quarter before conceding to Marshalls University College on the back of streaky shooting from the latter’s wing man Daniel Okoe Laryea.
The Private Universities Students Association Games (PUSAG) Basketball competition was no different as the 2015 champions failed to make it out of a group that had Evangelical Presbyterian University College and Kings University College qualify from the group.
A dramatic turnaround and some luck is what the team needs to make a statement in this year’s competition.
The 2016 UPAC Championship is headlined by Rexona, supported by MTN, CAL Bank and Fanyogo in partnership with Basketballghana.com, TV3, YFM and Ghana Sports Newspaper.
